Motor vehicle with a device for reducing an air stream flow into a wheel house

Abstract

A motor vehicle ( 1 ) has a device ( 5 ) that projects into the wheel house ( 3 ) to reduce the flow of air into the wheel house ( 3 ) while the motor vehicle ( 1 ) is moving. The device ( 5 ) may extend from an underbody panel ( 4 ) of the motor vehicle ( 1 ) and may be pivotable about a longitudinal axis ( 6 ) of the motor vehicle ( 1 ) on a side of the underbody panel ( 4 ) that faces the wheel house ( 3 ). Alternatively, the device ( 5 ) is connected to a chassis component ( 7 ) of a wheel ( 2 ) arranged within the wheel house ( 3 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A motor vehicle, comprising:
 a wheel house for accommodating a wheel to enable movement of the vehicle in forward and backward directions of the motor vehicle; 
 an underbody panel inward from the wheel house and having a side edge adjacent the wheel house; and 
 a device pivotally connected to the side edge of the underbody panel and projecting into the wheel house for reducing a flow of air into the wheel house while the motor vehicle is moving, the device being pivotable about an axis substantially parallel to the forward and backward directions of the motor vehicle. 
 
     
     
       2. The motor vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the device is formed by an enlargement of the underbody panel into the wheel house. 
     
     
       3. The motor vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a plate. 
     
     
       4. The motor vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the device is substantially rectangular and has long side connected pivotably to the underbody panel. 
     
     
       5. The motor vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the device is substantially trapezoidal and has a long parallel side connected pivotably to the underbody panel. 
     
     
       6. The motor vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the device and the underbody panel are connected pivotably by a joint, a bending edge or a fold. 
     
     
       7. The motor vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein a lower surface of the device and a lower surface of the underbody panel are substantially coplanar in one pivotal position of the device. 
     
     
       8. The motor vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the device is pivotable as a function of a compression and rebound of a wheel arranged in the wheel house. 
     
     
       9. The motor vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the device is connected to a compressible and reboundable chassis component that receives the wheel. 
     
     
       10. The motor vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein a lower surface of the device and a lower surface of the underbody panel are substantially coplanar in one pivotal position of the device in the compressed position of the wheel. 
     
     
       11. A motor vehicle, comprising:
 a wheel house; 
 a wheel housed in the wheel house and having a chassis component, the wheel and the chassis component being arranged within the wheel house; 
 an underbody panel inward from the wheel house and extending in forward and backward directions of the motor vehicle, the underbody panel having a side edge adjacent the wheel house; and 
 a device fixedly connected to the chassis component of the wheel, the device pivotally connected to the side edge of the underbody panel and projecting into the wheel house for reducing a flow of air into the wheel house while the motor vehicle is moving, the device being pivotable about an axis parallel to the side edge of the underbody panel and extending in the forward and backward directions of the motor vehicle. 
 
     
     
       12. The motor vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the device is a plate. 
     
     
       13. The motor vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the device is substantially rectangular and has a long side substantially adjacent the underbody panel. 
     
     
       14. The motor vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the device is substantially trapezoidal and has a long parallel side substantially adjacent the underbody panel. 
     
     
       15. The motor vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein a lower surface of the device is substantially coplanar with a lower surface of the underbody panel in a compressed position of the wheel. 
     
     
       16. The motor vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the chassis component is a chassis link.